14:50 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:0512:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:2516:00

Betway Conditions Stakes

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 1m 12.84s

(8)

Kimberella¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: R A Fahey| OR: 109| D

12/1

Class act at best, as he reminded us when winning a Listed event at Chester in the summer. First visit here but won twice on the AW at Lingfield earlier in the year and is an obvious player in this grade.

Form: 301848

(2)

Salateen¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107| C

4/1

High-class performer who ran brilliantly to make all in a Listed event over C&D earlier in the year. Solid turf form since, most notably when second in a Group 3 at Goodwood last time. Clearly of interest.

Form: 343522

(6)

Double Up^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 100| D

10/3

Appeared to have lost his way a bit earlier this year but a different proposition when returning from a lengthy absence at Kempton last month, winning a 6f handicap a shade cosily. Dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 384-521

(3)

Gulliver^p,t³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 95| BF| CD

7/2

Improved dramatically for the introduction of cheekpieces this autumn, rattling off an AW hat-trick (including over C&D). Seemed to run too bad to be true when losing his unbeaten AW record at Lingfield last time (7f). Needs his 'A game'.

Form: 621117

(4)

Intisaab^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| BF| D

7/2

Pretty prolific at one point but has now gone 13 starts without a win since opening up this year with success at Ripon. Decent effort to push Double Up to under 1L at Kempton latest and now 5lb better off.

Form: 346442

(5)

Line Of Reason⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 100| CD

25/1

Winner of 10 races, including on only previous attempt over this C&D on his debut over five years ago. More accustomed to 5f these days and shaped well over that trip when second at Beverley last time. This looks a big ask though.

Form: 788072

(7)

Mythmaker³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 105| D

14/1

Useful sort over this trip when in the mood, as he was when winning at Haydock earlier in the year. Lightly-raced since but decent effort to finish second in a Listed event at Lingfield last month. Chance if building on that.

Form: 251272

(1)

Polybius¹²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: D M Simcock| OR: 106| D

9/1

Won four times for David Lanigan but without a victory for this yard, though did go close in a valuable handicap at Ascot in the summer. Not sighted since a below par effort at Newmarket in August, something to prove.

Form: 403428

Non-Runners

(9)

Gracious John⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Double Up (10/3), Intisaab (7/2), Gulliver (7/2), Salateen (4/1), Gracious John (8/1), Polybius (9/1), Kimberella (12/1), Mythmaker (14/1), Line Of Reason (25/1)

A competitive conditions event in which David O'Meara holds a strong hand, saddling both Intisaab - who could feasibly reverse recent Kempton form with Double Up on 5lb better terms - and SALATEEN. Preference is for the latter who has maintained his form on turf since showing a distinct liking for this C&D when making virtually all in a Listed event back in the spring. Kimberella, who is the pick of these on official ratings, also has to be of interest.